SCOTT’S LAST STORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 63, 19 March 1913, Page 5

SCOTT’S LAST STORY.

TO BE ISSUED AT THE YEAR END.

i COMPLETE AND INTERESTING I

I (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.)

(Received 8.45 a.m.)

Melbourne, March 19,

The Federal Government has decided to contribute £2OOO to the Scott fund. Commander Evans informed Mr

Fisher (Premier) of the intention of the Expedition to present the Commonwealth Government with a complete record of the expeditionary publications. This includes the history of the Expedition (largely written in Captain Scott’s own words), and folio and charts. Ho is now constructing a series of volumes containing the principal scientific results, with coihes of important photographs. If the financial position permits, duplicate copies will be presented to the principal universities and public libraries in Australia. Commander Evans stated he had no wish at present to break the silence, hut since it had been reported that it was the aim of the public, that Australia desired to know all they could reasonably expect to know concerning the fortunes and vicissitudes of the explorers, ho felt impelled to say something which had not yet been published about'the work of the expedition. The whole story, when unfolded, would prove of thrilling and absorbing interest, and it would be handed to the public about Christmas time. It was very largely Captain Scott’s own words. His diaries were very complete,, and it would be difficult to improve upon them, but there were many expeditions other than the one led Captain Scott, tne accounts of which would prove interesting.

SPECIMENS OF PRICELESS SCIENTIFIC VALUE.

DIFFICULTIES OF SCOTT’S JOUR

NEY RECALLED,

“NO BETTER GRAVE.”

(Received 9.20 a.m.)

Commander E.vans added that had Captain Scott been spared to return, ho; would have been delighted with the results of the various sledging expeditions. No doubt, one of the main objects in reaching the Polo was first to secure to the British nation

the honor of f the great achievement,

but Captaiir' Amundsen’s success in no way disconcerted the expedition. yTte specimens brought hack by C-attain Scout's party would prove ot priceless value to science. Had Captain Scott and his companions not been so eager to preserve every .record and specimen, they might have reached One Ton Camp. Taking into .consideration the cli■y*. -z'Xi i fc . *oit> t, _ mat it was very doubtful that had the specimens and records been placed at.depots, they would all have been recovered. In that case

theWAluo of Oaptain Scott’s journey would have been very much diminished. It was liard to say if Captain Scott had reached One Ton Camp whether he would have been able to return safely to the base. Winter had set ill, and the temperatures were appallingly low. Sledge hauling was dreadfully difficult, as there was darkness for twelve hours daily, and ho could hardlv believe that any

party which accomplished what Captain Scott’s did should have reached the base TbO miles away. Questioned as to whether the members of the Expedition desired to bring 1 back the bodies, Commander Evans declared: “I know that the dependents of those who so gallantly gave their lives for the cause of scientific research are unanimously of opinion that the bodies should remain where they were found. There was never any question among the members of the expedition about this. Those who found the bodies wore the best judges, as they had been constant companions of the southern party. “Xone of us,” concluded Commander Evans, “could conceive a bettor grave than the heart of the country where wo had given our best efforts in the cause all so earnestly believed in.”